Game hunting video camera

ABSTRACT

A video camera with range finding and sound producing capabilities. In one embodiment, a video camera comprises a speaker to produce one or more select sounds and an amplifier coupled to the speaker to amplify the one or more select sounds. The one or more select sounds are game calling sounds. In other embodiments, a video camera includes a display housing member that is movably coupled to a camera base to selectively cover and uncover a lens of the video camera. In addition, the video camera includes a range finder circuit that is used to determine the distance from the video camera to an object being recorded. Moreover, the range finder circuit is coupled to convey the determined distance on a display that is received in the display housing member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/264,587 filed on Mar. 8, 1999, the disclosures of which are herein specifically incorporated by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a video camera and in particular a video camera with range finding and sound producing capabilities.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Game hunting videos are very popular to the sportsman, both as an instructional tool and a way of capturing the hunt on film. However, filming the hunt can be difficult. Typically, the video recording of a hunt requires a second party to tag along to do the actual video recording. Having a second party tag along raises the possibility of scaring the game. Moreover, the video shot from a second party's field of view will be different than the hunter's field of view which lessons a viewers ability to experience what the hunter experiences during the hunt. Although, the hunter's field of view can be obtained by having the hunter himself or herself do the video recording, it is very difficult to operate a traditional video camera in a non-disruptive manner in a hunt situation.

[0004] For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a video camera to effectively record a hunt from the hunters perspective in a non-disruptive manner.

SUMMARY

[0005] The above-mentioned problems with video recorders and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

[0006] In one embodiment, a video camera is disclosed. The video camera comprises a speaker and an amplifier. The speaker is used to produce one or more select sounds. The amplifier is coupled to the speaker to amplify the one or more select sounds.

[0007] In another embodiment, another video camera is disclosed. The video camera comprises a main camera body, a camera base, a lens, a display housing member, a display and a range finder circuit. The camera base is coupled to a first end of the main camera body. The lens is received in the camera base. The display housing member is movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover and uncover the lens. The display is received in the display housing member. The range finder circuit is used to determine the distance from the video camera to an object being recorded. Moreover, the range finder circuit is coupled to convey the determined distance on the display.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, another video camera is disclosed. The video camera comprises a main camera body, a camera base, a lens, a display housing member, a display and a speaker circuit. The camera base is coupled to a first end of the main camera body. The lens is received in the camera base. The display housing member is movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover and uncover the lens. The display is received in the display housing member. The speaker circuit is used to produce one or more select sounds.

[0009] In further another embodiment, another video camera is disclosed. The video camera comprises a main camera body, an electronic compartment, a recording medium holder, a power source and a weather cover. The main camera body has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape. The electronic compartment is coupled to the main camera body. The electronic compartment houses electronic circuits for operations of the video camera. Moreover, the electronic compartment has one or more external connection terminals. Each external connection terminal is in electrical communication with an associated electronic circuit housed in the electronic compartment. The recording medium holder is in electrical communication with the electronic components and is coupled to the main camera body. The power source is in electrical communication with the electronic circuits and the recording medium holder. The weather cover is used to selectively cover and protect the electronic compartment, the cassette holder and the power source from weather. The weather cover has a first end that is generally cylindrical in shape and a second enclosed end. The first end of the weather cover is selectively connected to the first end of the main camera body to form a weatherproof seal. When the weather cover is coupled to the main camera body, the one or more external connection terminals are protected from the weather by the weather cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuits in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3A is a block diagram of one embodiment of a speaker circuit of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3B is a block diagram of one embodiment of a range finder circuit of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a barrel of a weapon; and

[0018]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a bow.

[0019] In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention relate to video camera that is adapted to be mounted to a weapon. Applicant has previously invented a weapon mounted video camera described and claimed in application Ser. No. 09/264,587 which is herein incorporated by reference. The present invention relates to a range finding circuit to convey a distance to a target and speaker circuit to emulate game calls in a video camera that can be mounted to a weapon.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a side perspective view of one embodiment of a game hunting video camera 100 of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, this embodiment includes a main camera body 10, a camera weather cover 12, a camera base 16, a display housing member 18 and a camera mount member 14. The camera weather cover 12 is selectively coupled to the main camera body 10. The main camera body 10 is coupled to the camera base 16 and the camera mount member 14. Mounted through the main camera body 10 is a zoom in button 22 and a zoom out button to control zoom functions of the video camera 100. Also mounted through the main camera body is an on/off button 76 to control power up and power down functions of the video camera 100. Mounted on the camera base 16 is a rear microphone 19 to record the sounds produced by the hunter and an indicator light 23 that illuminates when the video camera 100 is recording. The camera base 16 also includes a remote port hookup 86 to couple a remote control unit 61 to a control circuit that controls the functions of the video camera 100. The remote control unit 61 includes an on/off button, a zoom in button 80 and a zoom out button 82. In addition, the display housing member 18 selectively extends into and out of the camera basel6 to protect the display 36 and a lens 26 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) of the video camera 100 when not in use.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating the main circuits 300 of one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, the main circuits 300 include a control circuit 302 to control operations of the video camera 100. The control circuit is coupled to a display circuit 308, a speaker circuit 306, a video recording circuit 310, a user interface 312 and a range finder circuit 304. The video recording circuit 310 contains the elements found in a typical video recorder. The display circuit 308 is used to display the images the lens 26 of the video recorder 100 is receiving. The user interface 312 is used to allow a user to input commands to the control unit 302. The range finder circuit 304 is used to determine the distance from the video camera 100 to an object. Moreover, the speaker circuit 306 is used to produce a sound that attracts the game.

[0024] A block diagram of one embodiment of the speaker circuit 306 is illustrated in FIG. 3A. The speaker circuit 306 includes a call record microphone 324 and an audible recoding medium 326. The call record microphone 324 and the recording medium 326 are used to record sounds. For example, the sound may be a game call to attract such animals as deer, ducks, geese, etc. The recording medium 326 may be an analog or a digital format. The speaker circuit also includes an amplifier 320 and speaker 54 to project the sounds recorded by the recording medium 326. In addition, a speaker control circuit 322 is coupled to control the circuits 320, 324, 326 and 54 of the speaker circuit 306.

[0025] In addition, a block diagram of one embodiment of the range finder circuit 304 is illustrated in FIG. 3B. As illustrated in this embodiment, the range finder circuit 304 includes a range finder control 334 and a transceiver 51. The transceiver 51 includes a transmitter 52 and a receiver 56. The transmitter 52 is used to transmit a laser signal and the receiver is used to receive the laser signal after it has been reflected off a target (the object in which the distance to, is to be determined). The range finder control 334 then uses the transit time to determine the distance to the target. Once the distance has been determined, the range finder control 334, sends a signal to the control circuit 302. The control circuit 302 then directs the display circuit 308 to display the distance on display 53 of FIG. 1. In addition, in one embodiment, the control circuit 320 directs the distance to be recorded on the video recording made by the video camera 100.

[0026] In the above-described embodiment, a range finder incorporating a light propagation time measuring method to determine the distance to an object is described. However, it will be understood in the art that other types of range finders could be used in the present invention such as the light-section method, the binocular steropsis method and the like, and that the present invention is not limited to the light propagation time measuring method.

[0027] Referring back to FIG. 1, housing 50 encases part of the range finder circuit 304 and the speaker circuit 306. More specifically, housing 50 encases the speaker control 322 of the speaker circuit 306 and the range finder control 334 of the range finder circuit 304. Moreover, in one embodiment, housing 50 also encases the audio recording medium 326 of the speaker circuit 306. As illustrated in FIG. 1, when activated, the range finder circuit displays indicia 53 to convey the distance to a selected object. As stated above, in one embodiment, the distance is recorded on the video recording of the video camera 100. This conveys to a viewer of the recording the distance between the hunter and the game. In addition, in one embodiment, the rear microphone 19 is selectively used as the call record microphone 324.

[0028] The user interface 312 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 includes remote control unit 61. In particular, in this embodiment, remote control unit 61 includes a range finder button 60 that when depressed causes the range finder circuit 304 to activate. In this embodiment, the remote control unit 61 also includes first and second sound buttons 62 and 64 that when depressed causes the speaker circuit 306 to produce an assigned sound. For example, depressing the first sound button 62 causes the speaker circuit 306 to produce a doe call and depressing the second sound button 64 causes the speaker circuit to produce a buck call. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the remote control unit 61 is coupled to the remote port hookup 86 with a remote cable connector 90 of a remote cable 90. Although, this embodiment uses a remote cable 90 to coupled the remote control unit 61 to the control circuit 302, it will be understood in the art that a wireless connection could be made instead and that the present invention is not limited to the use of a remote cable 90.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, a front perspective view of the video camera 100 is illustrated. As illustrated, the front of the video camera includes the transceiver 51 of the range finder circuit 304 and the speaker 54 of the speaker circuit 306. The transceiver 51 includes the transmitter 52 and the receiver 56. As illustrated, the display housing member 18 selectively covers the lens 26, transceiver 51 and the speaker 54 when not in use.

[0030] An embodiment of a video camera 200 of the present invention having its weather cover 12 removed is illustrated in FIG. 4. As illustrated, in this embodiment, an electronic compartment 220, a recording medium holder 58 and a power source 60 are coupled to the main camera body 10. The electronic compartment 220 holds some of the electric circuits used to operate the video camera 200. The recording medium holder 58 is used to store a recording medium and to record onto the recording medium. The recording medium may be a videocassette, a storage disk or the like. The power source 60 provides power to operate the video camera 200 and is selectively coupled to a power source base 222. The electronic circuits, recording medium holder 58 and the power source 60 are all in electrical communication with each other.

[0031] As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the main camera body 10 is generally cylindrical in shape. Moreover, the weather cover 12 is also cylindrical in shape. The weather cover has a first end 217 that has external threads 212 and a second end 219 that is enclosed. The main camera body 10 has internal threads 219 on a first end 215 that are adapted to threadably engage the external threads 212 on the weather cover 12. Moreover, the external threads 212 of the weather cover terminate in a shoulder 214. A seal 41 is positioned against the shoulder 214 so that when the external threads 212 of the weather cover 12 are threadably engaged with the internal threads 216 of the main camera body 10 and tightened, the seal 41 is depressed against the shoulder 214 thereby creating a weatherproof seal. In addition, when the weather cover 12 is coupled to the main camera body, the electronic compartment 220, the recording medium holder 58 and the power source 60 are received in the weather cover 12 to protect them from weather like rain and snow. Moreover, when the weather cover 12 is not coupled to the main camera body 10, a user has access to the recording medium holder 58 and power source.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, external connection terminals 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 and 224 are position on the electronic compartment 220 and the power source base 224 so that the weather cover 12 will protect them from the weather when the weather cover 12 is coupled to the main camera body 10. In particular, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, one of the external connection terminals is a memory card terminal 202 adapted to except a memory card that stores digital images. That is, in one embodiment, the memory card terminal 202 is used in a digital video camera embodiment that has electronic circuits that have digital still image storage capabilities. Another external connection terminal illustrated, is a DV in/out terminal 204. The DV in/out terminal 204 is used to transfer digital images and video clips to a computer and to transfer images and video clips to the video camera 200. The DV terminal 204 may use the IEEE 1394 standard or the like. That is, one embodiment of the present invention includes electronic circuits to allow the transfer of images and video clips. These electronic circuits are coupled to the DV terminal 204.

[0033] Further, another external connection terminal illustrated in FIG. 4, is a S-video terminal 206. The S-video terminal is used to couple the video camera 200 to a television set, or the like, to display what has been recorded. Other external connection terminals located on the electronic compartment 220 in this embodiment are video and audio terminals 208 and 210. The associated electronic circuits coupled to the video and audio terminals are housed in the electronic compartment 220. In addition the external connection terminals also include a charging terminal 224 on the power source base 222. The charging terminal is coupled to an electronic circuit adapted to charge the power source 60 from an external power supply. It will be recognized in the art that other external connection terminals could be used that would benefit from being sheltered from the weather by the weather cover 12 and the present invention is not limited to the external connection terminals herein described.

[0034] An illustration of another embodiment of a video camera 400 of the present invention that is selectively coupled to a barrel 98 of a firearm is illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated in this embodiment, the firearm includes a forearm 100. The video camera 400 is mounted to the barrel of the firearm with an upper mount bracket 91 and a lower mount bracket 92. A release button 115 allows for the quick removal of the video camera 400 from the barrel 98 of the firearm. Thus, allowing the video camera 400 to be used in non-hunting situations. In this embodiment of the video camera 400, the housing member 18 selectively rotates on hinges to cover and uncover the lens 26 of the video camera 400. Also included in this embodiment is a cover member 20 to shield a display 36 from weather conditions. The camera base 16 of this embodiment includes a front microphone to record sound emanating from in front of the video camera 400 and a switch 30 to turn on and off the video camera 400 in response to the position of the housing member 18. As illustrated, this embodiment includes a transceiver 51 for the range finder circuit 304 and a speaker 54 for the speaker circuit 306. In one embodiment, the front microphone 28 is selectively used as the call record microphone 324 in the speaker circuit 54. An illustration of video camera 400 coupled to a bow 500 is illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated, the video camera is mounted on a counter weight bar 102 of the bow 500. The bow 500 is illustrated as having a flexible bow element 106, a cable guard 110, a bowstring 112 and an internally threaded metal insert adapted to accept the counter weight 102.

[0035] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A video camera comprising: a speaker to produce one or more select sounds; and an amplifier coupled to the speaker to amplify the one or more select sounds.
 2. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising: a microphone; a recording medium coupled to record the one or more select sounds detected by the microphone; and wherein the speaker is coupled to selectively produce the one or more select sounds recorded in the recording medium.
 3. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a digital format.
 4. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an analog format.
 5. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising: an attachment means to selectively couple the video camera to a weapon.
 6. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the one or more select sounds produced by the speaker circuit are game calls.
 7. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising: a range finder circuit to determine the distance from the video camera to an object being recorded.
 8. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising: an user interface coupled to selectively cause the one or more select sounds to be produced by the speaker.
 9. The video camera of claim 8, wherein the user interface is a remote control unit.
 10. The video camera of claim 9, the remote control unit further comprises: an activation button for each one of the one or more select sounds, wherein when an activation button is depressed an associated select sound is produced by the speaker.
 11. A video camera comprising: a main camera body; a camera base coupled to a first end of the main camera body; a lens received in the camera base; a display housing member movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover and uncover the lens; a display received in the display housing member; and a range finder circuit to determine the distance from the video camera to an object being recorded, the range finder circuit being coupled to convey the determined distance on the display.
 12. The video camera of claim 11, further comprising: a means to coupled the video camera to a weapon.
 13. The video camera of claim 11, wherein the range finder circuit causes the determined distance to be recorded on a video recording produced by the video camera.
 14. The video camera of claim 11, further comprising: a speaker circuit to selectively produce one or more sounds.
 15. The video camera of claim 11, further comprising: a user interface coupled to selectively cause the range finder circuit to activate.
 16. The video camera of claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises: a remote control unit with a range finder activation button.
 17. The video camera of claim 11, wherein the range finder circuit comprises: a range finder control to control range finding functions; a transmitter coupled to the range finder control to transmit a laser signal to the object; and a receiver coupled to the range finder control to receive the laser signal when the laser signal is reflected back from the object to the video camera.
 18. The video camera of claim 17, wherein the display housing member selectively covers the transmitter and the receiver when not in use.
 19. A video camera comprising: a main camera body; a camera base coupled to a first end of the main camera body; a lens received in the camera base; a display housing member movably coupled to the camera base to selectively cover and uncover the lens; a display received in the display housing member; and a speaker circuit to produce one or more select sounds.
 20. The video camera of claim 19, further comprising: an attachment means to coupled the video camera to a weapon.
 21. The video camera of claim 19, wherein the speaker circuit comprises: a microphone to receive the one or more select sounds; a recording medium to store the one or more select sounds; and a speaker to reproduce the one or more select sounds.
 22. The video camera of claim 21, wherein the one or more select sounds are game calling sounds.
 23. The video camera of claim 19, further comprising: a range finder circuit to determine the distance from the video camera to an object being recorded, the range finder circuit is coupled to convey the determined distance on the display.
 24. The video camera of claim 23, wherein the range finder circuit comprises: a range finder control to control range finding functions; a transmitter coupled to the range finder control to transmit a laser signal to the object; and a receiver coupled to the range finder control to receive the laser signal when the laser signal is reflected back from the object to the video camera.
 25. The video camera of claim 23, further comprising: an user interface coupled to selectively operate the speaker circuit and the range finder circuit.
 26. The video camera of claim 25, wherein the user interface is a remote control unit.
 27. The video camera of claim 26, wherein the remote control unit further comprises: an activation button for each sound, wherein each activation button is assigned to a specific sound and is coupled to activate the speaker to produce the assigned sound when depressed.
 28. The video camera of claim 26, wherein the remote control unit further comprises: a range finder activation button coupled to activate the range finder circuit when depressed.
 29. A video camera recorder comprising: a main camera body having a first end generally cylindrical in shape; an electronic compartment coupled to the main camera body, the electronic compartment housing electronic circuits for operations of the video camera, the electronic compartment having one or more external connection terminals, wherein each external connection terminal is in electrical communication with an associated electronic circuit housed in the electronic compartment; a recording medium holder in electrical communication with the electronic components, the recording medium holder is coupled to the main camera body; a power source in electrical communication with the electronic circuits and the recording medium holder; and a weather cover to selectively cover and protect the electronic compartment, the cassette holder and the power source from weather, the weather cover having a first end generally cylindrical in shape and a second enclosed end, the first end of the weather cover is selectively connected to the first end of the main camera body forming a weatherproof seal, wherein when the weather cover is coupled to the main camera body the one or more external connection terminals are protected from the weather by the weather cover.
 30. The video camera recorder of claim 29, wherein when the weather cover is not connected to the main camera body the one or more external connection terminals can be accessed by a user.
 31. The video camera recorder of claim 29, wherein the one or more external connection terminals are selected from a group consisting of, memory card terminal, DV in/out terminal, S-video terminal, audio terminal, video terminal and charging terminal.
 32. The video camera recorder of claim 29, further comprising: a power source base coupled to receive the power source, the power source base having a charging terminal coupled to a charging circuit to charge the power source from an external power supply, wherein the charging terminal is covered by the weather cover when the weather cover is coupled to the main camera body.
 33. The video camera recorder of claim 29, further comprising: the first end of the main camera body having internal threads; and the first end of the weather cover having external threads terminating in a shoulder, the external threads are adapted to threadably engage the internal threads of the first end of the main camera body.
 34. The video camera recorder of claim 31, further comprising: a seal positioned adjacent the shoulder of the weather cover, wherein the seal is compressed to form the weatherproof seal when the external threads of the weather cover are engaged with the internal threads of the main camera body. 